Gripping Device Bias Mechanism with Selective Shuttle Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gripping devices, such as forceps and pliers, lack a selectively engageable and disengageable bias mechanism that can apply variable forces to individual arms without being removed or moved, leading to issues with durability and functionality over time.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a working arm, a shuttle, and a bias device that biases the arm when the shuttle is in a specific position, allowing for variable force application by changing the shuttle's position, enabling one-handed activation and deactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bias device is permanently attached to both arms of a gripping device, then the arms are continuously biased apart, but the device cannot be selectively engaged or disengaged and may become lost or damaged over time
Solution Approach 1:
The bias device is made dynamically engageable and disengageable through a shuttle mechanism that can be moved between positions. The shuttle has a first position where it engages the bias device to activate the biasing force, and a second position where it disengages the bias device to deactivate the biasing force. This dynamic positioning allows selective engagement without permanent attachment, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
2Force
If a bias device applies force directly to both arms simultaneously, then the arms are directly moved apart, but individual arm control and variable force application are not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The bias device is segmented into separate biasing elements for each arm. The shuttle can independently engage or disengage the bias device on each arm by moving to different positions. This segmentation allows one-handed activation where a single shuttle controls multiple biasing forces independently, enabling variable force application to individual arms while maintaining ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a removable bias device is added to a gripping device, then selective engagement is possible, but the device may become lost or damaged over time
Solution Approach 1:
The bias device is merged with the gripping device through a integrated shuttle mechanism. The shuttle is part of the permanent gripping device structure, while the bias device elements are permanently attached to the arms. This merging ensures the bias device cannot be lost or damaged separately, while the shuttle provides selective engagement capability through its movable positions, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a gripping device with a selectively engageable bias mechanism that can apply variable forces to individual arms, enhancing durability and functionality by allowing for easy activation and deactivation without removal, improving the device's operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the bias device biases the first working arm when the shuttle is in a first position
Data Source
AI summary
A device comprising: (a) a first working arm; (b) a body; (c) a shuttle, and (d) a bias device; wherein the bias device biases the first working arm relative to the body when the shuttle is in a first position, and wherein the bias device is free of biasing the first working arm relative to the body when the shuttle is in a second position.